Bespoke PLC/SCADA Packages

Bespoke PLC/SCADA Packages

Struggling to get support for your SCADA system? Is your integrator slow to respond to support calls or to deliver new functionality that you desperately need? Take a look at what Promtek can offer!

Promtek is actively developing, integrating and supporting a variety of SCADA systems for its customers. We have built new installations from scratch and also taken over support for systems where the provider was failing to satisfy the customer’s requirements. We can use existing licences and upgrade obsolete licences from all kinds of suppliers.

What is SCADA?

SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and describes the software running on one or more industrial PCs to control and monitor a production process with one or more operators providing supervision. It is possible to control and monitor any process imaginable, provided suitable sensors are available and the hardware has enough memory and processing power to accommodate all the information required.

The plant mechanics itself is controlled using an I/O subsystem. This is often a program running on a PLC (programmable logic computer) connected to electrical sensors and switchgear, but it can also be a direct link from the SCADA software via comms.

Some systems run the plant control in the PLC itself, linking to the SCADA to show the plant status. Other systems leave basic I/O control in the PLC and run the process control on the PC to take advantage of its processing power and memory.

How is SCADA different from Promtek StoraWeigh® and Kestrel™ systems?

Promtek StoraWeigh® and Kestrel™ offer more connectivity

SCADA systems are usually focussed on controlling and monitoring the machinery driving manufacturing processes, whereas Promtek’s own systems support complex tasks such as manual data entry, material batch tracking and tracing and scheduling, as well as operating machinery.

Promtek StoraWeigh® and Kestrel™ are modular and simple to configure

Typical SCADA systems are sold under licence, according to the number of data tags required for an application, the number of screens and the number of devices connected to the system. Promtek assembles a system from scratch and tests it thoroughly before commissioning. In comparison, Promtek’s own brand systems are sold as functional, connected modules that are already fully tested and require simple configuration on site.

Promtek StoraWeigh® and Kestrel™ are compatible with any manufacturer of PLC hardware

Some SCADA packages can communicate with any PLC hardware via software called an ‘OPC server’. OPC stands for Object linking and embedding (OLE) for Process Control. Most of the mainstream manufacturers restrict their SCADA for use with their own PLC hardware only. As well as acting as an OPC server themselves, Promtek systems can connect to any PLC hardware and can even control a mixture of manufacturers.